For Labor Day, Some Difficult Questions for the U.S. Bishops on Church Worker Justice

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U.S. bishops, in keeping with the global church's conversations on family life, used their 2015 Labor Day Statement to reflect about how greater justice for workers encourages stronger families. Read More

Fired Teacher "Overjoyed" by Catholic School's New LGBT Policy; School Apologizes While Diocese Remains Quiet

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The decision by Portland's St. Mary's Academy (SMA) to positively alter its employment policies after firing a gay staff member was a landmark one. That shift was prompted by a school community which rallied quickly against injustice and an administration open to new ways of being in the church. While the staff member is "overjoyed" by this, it seems the Archbishop Alexander Sample and the Diocese of Portland do not share that joy. Read More

BREAKING NEWS: In Quick Victory, Catholic School Reverses Position in Firing of Lesbian Teacher

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St. Mary's Academy in Portland has altered its employment policies after widespread backlash against administrators' decision to fire a lesbian counselor, Lauren Brown. Bondings 2.0 reported on this incident earlier today and you can find more details here. Read More

Dismissed Lesbian Educator Refuses Catholic School's Monetary Offer

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A Catholic school in Oregon withdrew a job offer because the newly hired educator is gay. This is not a first going back to school, but this case is revealing the depths to which Catholic administrators will go to silence LGBT church workers. Read More

San Francisco Teachers Approve New Archdiocesan Contract by Slim Majority

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Teachers at San Francisco's Catholic high schools passed new contracts containing enhanced morality clauses by a slim majority, the latest in a months long struggle between Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone and Bay Area Catholics about LGBT inclusion. Read More

Lesbian Teacher Reinstated in German School, As Georgia H.S. Band Director Wins Employment Case

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The trend of church workers losing their jobs in LGBT-related employment disputes is not slowing, but thankfully community responses and legal improvements are pushing back. Below, Bondings 2.0 offers updates on several previous incidents, including the implementation of a Germany employment policy more welcoming of LGBT church workers. Read More

23,000 Signature Petition Asks Archbishop Chaput to Protect LGBT Teachers

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Fired church worker Margie Winters left 23,000 petition signatures at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's offices on Monday, demanding Archbishop Charles Chaput end the firing of LGBT church workers and respect Catholic schools' autonomy. Read More

Lesbian Educator Comes Out At End of Twenty Year Career in Catholic Education

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After nearly twenty years in Catholic education, Joan Grundy is coming out in her just released autobiography. In the book, A Deepening Life, she tells of being a lesbian employee in Canada's Catholic schools and shares the quiet ways she helped create change. Read More

Jamie Manson: Catholic Schools Must Say "No More" in Firing of LGBT Teachers

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Firing LGBT teachers from Catholic schools must stop, says a National Catholic Reporter columnist, at the same time the Archdiocese of San Francisco's disputed teaching contracts near resolution. Below, there are also additional updates in the cases of several fired church workers. Read More

Teacher Resigns Over San Francisco Contract Proposals Which California Lawmakers Are Investigating

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Another teacher is leaving San Francisco's Catholic school system due to proposed contract changes targeting LGBT and ally employees, a resignation coming at the same time California's legislature holds hearings on the controversy. Read More